Universally pivoted switch actuator mechanism



Jan. 11, 1966 L. BEATTY 3,229,059

UNIVERSALLY PIVOTED SWITCH ACTUATOR MECHANISM Filed Sept. 13, 1963I/IIIIIIIIIIII INVEN TOR.

lllllll-lllll m w y. w mm m A A Md w Y B M J a 5 b United States Patent3,229,059 UNIVERSALLY PIVOTED SWITCH ACTUATOR MECHANISM David L. Beatty,10712 E. 84th Terrace, Raytown, M0. Filed Sept. 13, 1963, Ser. No.308,848 2 Claims. (Cl. ZOO-61.41)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electricalswitch mechanisms, and has particular reference to a switch mechanismparticularly adapted to be operated by invalids such as paralyticshaving minimal usage of their bodies. For example, some might havevoluntary control only of their head movements, or of one arm or oneleg, and even this control may be only partial or imperfect.

The primary object of this invention is, therefore, the provision of aswitch mechanism adapted to be operated by such an invalid regardless ofthe type of disability he may have, so long as he has at least minimalvoluntary control of any member of his body. To this end, the mechanismforming the subject matter of the present invention includes a switchhousing adapted to be supported adjacent the portion of his body whichthe invalid can control, and having an antenna projecting therefrom,said housing having therein switch contacts which are operable to beclosed by movement of said antenna in any direction. Thus, so long asthe invalid can touch and move the antenna with his body, he can operatethe switch. The switch, through suitable electric apparatus forming nopart of the present invention in itself, may control a large number offunctions not ordinarily available to such an invalid. For example, itmay be utilized to control room lights, operate a signal to call anurse, control a radio or television set, operate a telephone, and manyothers.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of con-struction, efficiencyand dependability of operation, and adaptability for use in a widevariety of applications.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appearin the course of the specification, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a switch mechanism embodying the presentinvention suspended in operative position about the neck of an invalidpatient,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the housing of the mechanism taken ona plane parallel to the base thereof, being taken substantially on lineIIII of FIG. 3, with parts broken away and foreshortened,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line IIIIII of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line IV-IV ofFIG. 3, with the switch open,

FIG. 5 is 'a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4, but with the switchclosed, and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VI-VI of FIG. 2.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the severalviews, and the numeral 2 applies generally to the housing of the switchmechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention. Saidhousing includes a planar base 4, square as shown, and a correspondinglyshaped hollow cover 6 secured to said base by a pair of screws 8, saidbase and cover preferably being formed of a strong, light weightmaterial such as plastic. Fixed to base 4 within the housing, by a pairof screws 10, is a metal plate 12 having a pair of upturned ears 14 and16. Mounted rigidly on ear 14 by bolt 18 is a switch case 20 formed ofinsulating material. Mounted in said case are a fixed contact 22, and amovable contact 24 mounted at one end of a spring Patented Jan. 11, 1966arm 26 which is fixed at its opposite end in case 20. Said spring arm isengaged intermediate its ends by the enlarged foot 28 of an elongatedplunger 30 which is carried for longitudinal sliding movement in a hole32 provided therefor in case 20. The axis of said plunger is disposedgenerally at right angles to spring arm 26, and said spring arm istensioned so that it normally urges plunger 30 outwardly and holdscontact 24 out of engagement with contact 22. However, plunger 30extends outwardly from case 28, and it will be understood that inwardpressure on said plunger will flex arm 22 to move contacts 22 and 24into engagement. The outer end of said plunger is hemisphericallyrounded as shown. Contacts 22 and 24 have a pair of wires 34 and 36connected respectively thereto, said wires being combined in a singleflexible trailing cable 38 which emerges from housing 2 through anaperture 4%) formed in cover 6. It will be understood that said cable isconnected to the mechanism to be controlled, said controlled mechanismin itself forming no part of the present invention.

Plunger 30 is axially aligned with a hole 42 formed in ear 16 of plate12, and the hemispherically rounded outer end of said plunger is engagedpivotally in a socket 44 formed centrally in a rocker plate 46 havingthe form of a circular disc. Said rocker plate is disposed between car16 and plunger 30, and is urged against said car by said plunger as saidplunger is urged outwardly by spring arm 26. Hole 42 is of course ofsmaller diameter than said rocker plate. Socket 44 is of such depth thatthe center of curvature of the rounded end of plunger 3h lies in theplane of the surface of the rocker plate which engages ear 16, for areason which will presently appear.

Rocker plate 46 is provided with an axially extending rod 48 projectingoutwardly through hole 42 of ear 16. As shown, said rod is integral withthe plate, but could be separate and rigidly attached thereto. Anantenna 50 consisting of a closed helical spring 51 withits adjacentconvolutions in engagement is fitted snugly at its inner end over rod48, and extends outwardly from housing 2 through a hole 52 formedtherefor in cover 6 at one of the upper corners thereof. A sphericalball 54 of cork or other light weight material is attached to the outerend of spring 51. If desired, spring 51 may be covered with a tubularsheath 56 of flexible plastic, which prevents dirt from collecting inthe convolutions of the spring and alleviates the psychologically badimpression created when bare metal parts project from an electricswitch. I

The metal plate 12 which supports switch case 20 in housing 2 isprovided additionally with a pair of ears 58 which project outwardlyfrom housing 2 adjacent but respectively at opposite sides of antenna50, as best shown in FIG. 2. Externally of the housing, each of saidcars is formed to present a hook 60. A flexible strap 62 has each endthereof doubled on itself and sewed to form a loop 64, said loops eachbeing adapted to engage one of hooks 70. A stabilizing plate 66 of steelor other relatively heavy material corresponds to the shape of housingbase 4, and is adapted to be removably affixed to the outer surface ofsaid base by any suitable means such as screws 68 (see FIG. 3). A layerof soft rubber or other material is affixed to the outer surface ofplate 66, as an antiskid provision.

It will be seen that with the mechanism as described supported adjacentany portion of a patients body over which he has voluntary control, evenminimal control of his body will permit him to engage and move hall 54in one direction or another. This causes antenna 50 to tilt, and thenceto tilt rocker plate 46 against the pressure of plunger 30 and springarm 26. Antenna 543 could of course be rigid, but forming it of aflexible spring avoids possible gouging of the patient with resultantdiscomfort. It will of course be understood that spring 51 issutficiently rigid to cause rocker plate 46 to tilt before the antennaitself flexes to any appreciable degree. Tilting of rocker plate 46 inany direction, as shown in FIG. 5, causes said rocker plate to act as acam, forcing plunger 30 inwardly against the pressure of spring arm 26,thereby bringing contact 24 into engagement with contact 22 to close theswitch. It will be seen that a direct axial pressure on the antenna willalso close the switch.

Engagement of plunger 30 in socket 44 of the rocker plate provides thatthe rocker plate will always be accurately centered with respect to theplunger. Any olfcenter movement of the plunger on the rocker plate is tobe avoided, since this would cause the movement of antenna 50 to be moredifficult, that is to require more force, in some directions than inothers. The rocker plate could possibly be centered accurately over theplunger by providing a very accurate centering connection between saidrocker plate and the bracket arm 16 which supports it. However, thiswould require very accurate placement of switch case 20 and plunger withrespect to arm 16, which is not always possible by normal productionmethods, and would also introduce the possibility of friction andbinding between the rocker plate and arm 16, which would renderoperation of the switch less dependable and more subject to malfunction.With the present structure, hole 42 of .arm 16 may be made substantiallylarger than the socketed portion of the rocker plate, so that anymisalignment of said hole from plunger 30 which might occur due toinaccuracies of production would have no adverse effect on the operationof the switch. Rounding the outer end of plunger 30, and thecorresponding shape of socket 44, provides a smooth, nearly frictionlessoperation. Placing the center of curvature of the round plunger endflush with the surface of the rocker plate which engages arm 16, aspreviously described, has the effect of reducing the lateral slidingmovement of the rocker plate on arm 16, which must occur in some degreeeach time the rocker plate is tilted, to a bare minimum. This furtherincreases the smoothness-of operation, and reduces the possibility ofbinding between the rocker plate and arm.

FIG. 1 shows one common mounting of the mechanism, when used by apatient confined to a wheelchair, but having voluntary control of hishead or jaw movements. As shown, strap 62 is passed about the neck ofthe patient and engaged in hooks 60, whereby the housing 2 is suspendedbeneath the patients chin, with antenna extending upwardly toward hischin. The patient, by moving his head or lower jaw, can then engage ball54 to move said antenna to close the switch as previously de scribed.Strap 62 could also be used to fasten housing 2 to other portions of thepatients body, or to a bed frame, iron lung housing, or other rigidsupport adjacent the patient. If the patient is confined to bed, it isoften desirable simply to rest housing 2 directly on the bed adjacentthe patient. In this application, it is desirable to attach stabilizingplate 66 to the housing by screws 68, thereby giving said housingsufficient weight and stability that it will not be overturned or movedabout on the bed by the force required to operate antenna 50. Theantiskid nature of rubber layer 70 of the stabilizing plate also assistsin preventing accidental shifting of the housing on the bed. Thestabilizing plate generally may be dispensed with in the applicationshown in FIG. 1, since the housing is adequately retained by strap 62,and the stabilizing would constitute unnecessary weight which Would beirksome or fatiguing to the patient.

While I have shown and described a specific'embodiment of my invention,it will be readily apparent that many minor changes of structure andoperation could be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch mechanism for invalids comprising:

(a) ahousing,

(b) an electric switch mounted in said housing,

(0) a plunger extending outwardly from said switch and adapted by axialmovement away from its free end to close said switch, the outer end ofsaid plunger being spherically rounded,

(d) resilient means urging said plunger toward its free end whereby saidswitch is normally maintained open,

(e) a support arm aifixed in said housing and adjacent the free end ofsaid plunger, said arm having a planar surface normal to said plungerand having an aperture therethrough in generally axial alignment withsaid plunger,

(f) a circular rocker plate normally disposed with its plane normal tothe plunger, and between said plunger and said normal surface of saidarm, said rocker plate being slidably movable on said normal arm surfaceand having a spherically rounded socket formed centrally in a facethereof in which the spherically rounded end of said plunger is snuglybut pivotally engaged, and

(g) an antenna fixed to said rocker plate, said antenna projectingthrough the aperture of said support arm and projecting exteriorly ofsaid housing.

2. The structure as recited in claim 1 wherein the center of curvatureof said spherically rounded end of said plunger, and of the sphericallyrounded socket of said rocker plate, lies in the plane of the surface ofsaid rocker plate which engages said support arm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,573,139 10/1951Hoffman 200-61 2,686,234 8/ 1954 Obszarny 200-6 2,913,546 11/1959 Guinn20061 3,180,950 4/1965 Jacobson 200-61 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, PrimaryExaminer.

B. DOBECK, Examiner.

1. A SWITCH MECHANISM FOR INVALIDS COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING, (B) ANELECTRIC SWITCH MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, (C) A PLUNGER EXTENDINGOUTWARDLY FROM SAID SWITCH AND ADAPTER BY AXIAL MOVEMENT AWAY FROM ITSFREE END TO CLOSE SAID SWITCH, THE OUTER END OF SAID PLUNGER BEINGSPHERICALLY ROUNDED, (D) RESILIENT MEANS URGING SAID PLUNGER TOWARD ITSFREE END WHEREBY SAID SWITCH IS NORMALLY MAINTAINED OPEN. (E) A SUPPORTARM AFFIXED IN SAID HOUSING AND ADJACENT THE FREE END OF SAID PLUNGER,SAID ARM HAVING A PLANAR SURFACE NORMAL TO SAID PLUNGER AND HAVING ANAPERTURE THERETHROUGH IN GENERALLY AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID PLUNGER,(F) A CIRCULAR ROCKER PLATE NORMALL DISPOSED WITH ITS PLANE NORMAL TOTHE PLUNGER, AND BETWEEN SAID PLUNGER AND SAID NORMAL SURFACE OF SAIDARM, SAID ROCKER PLATE BEING SLIDABLY MOVABLE ON SAID NORMAL ARM SURFACEAND HAVING A SPHERICALLY ROUNDED SOCKET FORMED CENTRALLY IN A FACETHEREOF IN WHICH THE SPHERICALLY ROUNDED END OF SAID PLUNGER IS SNUGLYBUT PIVOTALLY ENGAGED, AND (G) AN ANTENNA FIXED TO SAID ROCKER PLATE,SAID ANTENNA PROJECTING THROUGH THE APERTURE OF SAID SUPPORT ARM ANDPROJECTING EXTERIORLY OF SAID HOUSING.